Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain control during landing due to the failure of the tailwheel locking mechanism to remain engaged prior to landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated that he locked the tailwheel on his single-engine airplane prior to departure. After takeoff, he stayed in the traffic pattern and landed. However, during the landing rollout the airplane ground-looped and the airplane's lower right wing contacted the ground, breaking the wood spar. The pilot stated that postaccident examination of the airplane indicated that either hardened grease and dirt buildup may have prevented the tailwheel locking mechanism from fully engaging or that the mechanism may have been inadvertently bumped in flight.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10CA213 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 27, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Houston, Texas
- Nearest airport
- Houston Southwest Airport (AXH)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Waco YPF-7
- N-number
- N32077
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.